On a 3-2 vote Monday the Moore County Board of Commissioners has accepted a design and development phase plan for the public safety-detention center to be erected on a 21-acre tract adjacent to the existing jail in downtown Carthage.

Board Vice-chairman Jimmy Melton made the motion to approve the plan. He was joined by the chairman, Nick Picerno, and Commissioner Larry Caddell in voting for the plan.

Commissioners Tim Lea and Cindy Morgan cast the dissenting votes.

Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey and architect Glenn Ware of the Ware Bonsall firm presented the proposal during the commissioners' Monday night meeting. Godfrey chairs the Major Capital Projects Task Force.

Under questioning by board members, Ware said that the detention center would initially be large enough to house 192 inmates. However, he said the facility is designed for future expansion to house as many as 500 inmates but not more than 600.

The board also heard an update on public works capital improvements, including the news that bids for the elevated water tank in Pinehurst has come in under budget. The cost had originally been estimated at $1.6 million.

More details will appear in the print version of The Pilot.